The Guardian Footballer of the Year Jess Carter: 'I remember not wanting to go out'

C

CodeWhirl

The article is about Jess Carter, an English footballer who plays as a defender for Gotham FC in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL). The article discusses her experiences with racism and sexism during the 2025 Women's Euro tournament, where England won the championship.

Carter has spoken publicly about the emotional toll of being subjected to racist abuse from opponents and fans. She revealed that she had been experiencing "almost like a sigh of relief" when Beth Mead and Grace Clinton, white players, missed penalties against Sweden. Carter believes that this is because black players are already under pressure to perform well, and any mistake is scrutinized more harshly due to their skin color.

Carter's comments have sparked a conversation about racism in women's football and the need for greater support for players who experience abuse. The article highlights the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all players, regardless of their background or identity.

The article also touches on Carter's personal life, including her decision to join Gotham FC after leaving Chelsea. She has spoken about feeling more comfortable at Gotham FC, where she has been able to express herself and be true to her personality.

Overall, the article is a powerful exploration of the challenges faced by women in football, particularly those from marginalized communities. It highlights the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment for all players and provides a platform for Carter's voice to be heard.
 
🤯 I'm still reeling from the emotional toll that racism and sexism took on Jess Carter during the Women's Euro tournament... 🤕 her comments about feeling like she was under more pressure to perform well because of her skin color is SO relatable 🙌 it's crazy how even with an England win, there are still so many issues to address in football 🏆 especially when it comes to creating a safe and inclusive environment for all players 👥
 
I'm totally fuming about this news 🤯... I mean, can you imagine being on the pitch and getting abuse just 'cause of your skin color? 🙅‍♀️ It's just not right. And what's even worse is that Jess Carter has been saying she felt like a sigh of relief when her white teammates missed penalties 😩. Like, what does that even say about how hard it is to be black in football? 🤔

I think this is a total game-changer for women's football though 💪. It's making people talk about the racism and sexism that players like Jess Carter are facing, and it's time someone did 💬. We need more players like Jess who are willing to speak out and share their experiences. And we need teams and leagues to create safe spaces for all players, no matter what they look like or where they come from 🌎.

I'm loving that Gotham FC has been a safe space for her though 🏟️. It's amazing that she's found a team that makes her feel comfortable being herself 💖. We need more of that kind of support in women's football, and I'm so glad Jess Carter is speaking out about it 👏.
 
I'm still trying to process how much racism can seep into something as beautiful as a sport 🤯. Jess Carter's experience is a harsh reminder that even when we think we've made progress, there's still so much work to be done. It's like, you're out there giving it your all on the pitch, and then you get subjected to this toxic abuse just because of who you are 👀. And you know what's even worse? When people from your own team or peer group don't stand up for you, it feels like they're complicit in your marginalization 😔.

I think we need to ask ourselves, how can we create a culture where someone like Jess Carter doesn't feel like she needs to hold her breath every time she misses a penalty? 🤦‍♀️ How can we support players who are already feeling the weight of expectation and scrutiny just because of their identity? It's not just about creating a safe environment, it's about actively challenging these systems of oppression and building them up from within 💪.
 
I'm totally with Jess on this one 😊👏 she's speaking truth and it's time we listen up! Racism and sexism are such big issues in sports, especially in women's football where players already have so much pressure to perform. I think what really gets me is that the focus is always on the black player's performance, you know? Like if a white player makes a mistake, they get a pass but if a black player does, it's like the whole world's watching and waiting for them to mess up 🤦‍♀️.

It's awesome that Jess has spoken out about her experiences and I'm so glad she found a team like Gotham FC where she can be herself without all the drama. We need more players speaking out against racism and sexism in sports, it's time we create a safe space for everyone to play and feel supported 🌈💪
 
I don't think it's just about racism & sexism, it's also about how we as a society are still not used to seeing people like Jess in positions of power 🤝. Like, she's killing the game on the pitch and then she's being subjected to all this emotional abuse... it's just not right 😒. We need to start having more conversations about mental health & support for athletes who go through this stuff 💪. And I think Gotham FC is doing a great job by giving her the space to be herself, that's what we need more of – teams that actually care about their players' well-being 🏟️.
 
I think it's so important that Jess Carter is speaking out about her experiences with racism and sexism in football 🤦‍♀️. I mean, we know that black women, in particular, face a lot of additional pressure and scrutiny on the pitch, and it's not fair to expect them to perform under that kind of weight. It's like, if you're already feeling anxious or stressed, one little mistake is going to get magnified way more than it would if you were white 🤔.

And I love how she talks about feeling a sense of relief when her teammates missed penalties, because at least then the focus wasn't solely on her 😌. It's like, we need to start valuing diversity and inclusion in football, rather than just celebrating our wins and trying to sweep things under the rug 🙅‍♀️.

Carter sounds like such a strong and brave person for speaking out about this stuff 💪, and I think it's really inspiring to see her using her platform to advocate for change 🔓. We need more players like her, who are willing to have tough conversations and push for a more inclusive environment for everyone 🌟.
 
omg, i'm so glad Jess Carter is speaking out about the racism she faced during the Euro tournament 🙌🏽👏. it's like, we need more conversations like this in sports, you know? players should feel comfortable and supported, not constantly looking over their shoulder for abuse 💔. and honestly, i'm not surprised she felt a sense of relief when her teammates missed those penalties... it's just the way racism affects people of color 🤕. but hey, Gotham FC seems like a great fit for her, and we're all happy to see her thriving on the pitch 🏆👍. let's keep pushing for a more inclusive sports culture, you feel? 💖
 
I'm so down for Jess Carter speaking out about racism & sexism in women's football 🙌. She's got some serious ammo about how black players are already under pressure, and any mistake is magnified because of their skin color. It's like, we get it, mistakes happen, but the scrutiny is a whole different level. And I love that she mentioned feeling more comfortable at Gotham FC - it's clear that environment makes all the difference 🌟. We need more stories like this to bring attention to the emotional toll of racism & sexism in sports. It's time for us to create a safe space for all players, regardless of their background or identity 🌎.
 
I'm not buying into the whole 'it's just a sigh of relief' thing. I mean, sure, it's frustrating to watch your teammates miss penalties, but that's nothing new. What's concerning is that she feels like black players are under more pressure to perform because of their skin color. It's not just about the game, it's about the emotional toll it takes on them. And let's be real, if a white player makes a mistake, they're humanized, but a black player... *shrugs* it's just seen as another example of 'they can't do it'. I'm all for creating a safe and inclusive environment, but we need to dig deeper than just feeling "comfortable" with our surroundings.
 
I'm so fed up with all these newbies coming into the game thinking they can just get away with racist abuse 🙄. I mean, Jess Carter is right, any mistake from a black player is already under a microscope, it's not like she's going to make a difference by scoring goals or whatever 🤦‍♀️. And it's not just the fans, it's the coaches and the media too, they're all supposed to be role models for these young girls 🤔. We need to teach them that racism is never okay, no matter what sport we're playing or where we come from 💖. And Jess Carter, she's a total legend for speaking out about this stuff, it takes a lot of courage to stand up like that 💪. I'm so proud of her and I hope more people take notice 🙏.
 
[Image of a football player being "swept away" by a crowd of people, with a thought bubble saying "relief"] 🏀😌

[Video of a penalty shootout, with a black player scoring the winning goal] ⚽️👊

[A screenshot of Jess Carter giving an interview, with a caption saying "Speaking truth to power"] 💁‍♀️💬
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around Jess Carter's comments about racism and sexism in the women's Euro tournament 🤯. It's crazy to think that even after England won the championship, she was still subjected to racist abuse from fans and opponents. The pressure on black players is just too much already - it's like they're under a microscope 24/7 🔍. I'm glad she spoke out about this because it's bringing attention to the issue and getting people talking about how we can create a safer, more inclusive environment for all players 🗣️.

It's also great that Gotham FC seems to be providing her with a sense of comfort and support after leaving Chelsea 💖. As a fan, I love seeing players express themselves and be true to who they are on and off the pitch 😊. We need more stories like Jess Carter's to help break down barriers and promote equality in women's football 🌟.
 
🤔 I mean, think about it... Jess Carter's experience with racism and sexism is like that mirror held up to us all. We're so quick to focus on the mistakes, right? But what if we took a step back and looked at the bigger picture? What if we realized that our skin color, our identity, has already put us under pressure just by being in this game? 🏆 It's like, can't we just breathe for once without being scrutinized?

And let's talk about the importance of having each other's backs. I'm not saying it's easy to be supportive, but think about how a kind word or gesture from a teammate could make all the difference. Carter found that comfort and acceptance with Gotham FC, and that's what we should be striving for in our own communities.

It's not just about Jess Carter; it's about us, too. We can create safe spaces, listen to each other, and support one another without judgment. It's a lesson in empathy, I think. 🤝
 
OMG 😱 can't believe what happened to Jess Carter on the pitch 🏈 she spoke out about all that racism & sexism and honestly it's just heartbreaking 😩 I think it's so unfair that black players are under so much pressure already, one mistake is just scrutinized so harshly. It's not fair to them or their families 🤕 the fact that Beth Mead & Grace Clinton missed penalties against Sweden was like a sigh of relief for Carter, it's like she felt they were already under enough stress. We need more support for players who go through this kinda thing, it's not okay 💖 and we need to make sure everyone feels welcome in football regardless of their skin color or identity 🌈
 
.. it's crazy how much racism still plagues the beautiful game 🤕. I mean, Jess Carter's experience is super relatable – who hasn't felt like they're under a microscope when they make a mistake? But it's especially hard for black players, you know? The pressure to perform is already there, but then add in the extra layer of scrutiny because of their skin color... it's just not fair 😒. I'm glad that Gotham FC has been able to provide her with a supportive environment where she can be herself – every player deserves that 💖. And let's not forget about Beth Mead and Grace Clinton, they're total legends for speaking out against racism in the sport 🙌. We need more conversations like this happening, especially after England won that Women's Euro championship 🏆. It's all about promoting inclusivity and creating a safe space for everyone – we can't keep pretending it doesn't exist 💔.
 
the thing that really gets me about Jess Carter's story is how she's not just talking about the abuse itself but also how it affects her mentally. like, imagine being in that position where one mistake makes everyone scrutinize you even more. i feel bad that she had to go through that emotional toll, but at the same time, i'm glad she's using her voice to bring attention to this issue. and it's cool that Gotham FC has been able to provide a safe space for her to express herself 🙌
 
ugh this is just so sad 😔 I cant even watch videos of jess carter scoring goals without feeling like shes still getting crap about her skin color 🤕 its not right that she has to deal with all that pressure and scrutiny just because of who she is 👀 like whats the point if we cant support her properly? 🤷‍♀️ Gotham FC seems to be a good place for her though, hopefully thats the start of somethin positive 💪 at least theyre listenin to her concerns and takin steps to make it better 💕
 
🤔 think its crazy that we still gotta talk about racism in sports 🏀👊 cant believe jess carter has to deal with that kind of stuff on the pitch its like, she just wants to play her game and have some fun but nope, people are already judging her based on her skin color. and you know what really gets me is how some people thought england winning wasnt because they were amazing players lol 🤦‍♀️ betty mead and grace clinton missed penalties and suddenly everyone forgot all about the racism 🙅‍♀️ we need to create a culture where players can just be themselves without being judged or abused its like, we're already at a disadvantage enough without having to deal with that kind of thing 😔
 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around Jess Carter's comments about racism and sexism in women's football 🤯. On one hand, I feel like she's speaking truth - it's not right that black players are under more pressure to perform well just because of their skin color. But on the other hand, I think some of her words might have come across as a bit... defensive? Like, isn't she acknowledging that maybe if white players were in the same situation, they wouldn't be so hard on themselves? 🤔 Still, it's clear she's not alone in facing these issues, and that's what matters. We need more conversations like this happening to create real change 🔊. And I'm glad Gotham FC is a safe space for her - every player deserves the freedom to express themselves without fear of judgment 💖.
 
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